Apparatus for regulating the flow of fluids.



J. J. BOYLE.

PATENTED APR.19, 1904.

APPARATUS FOR RBGULATING THE PLOW 0F FLUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED 00129, 1902.

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PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

J. J. BOYLE. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE PLOW 0F FLUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED 00129, 1902.

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M77755 86,5: l/vvawroa 2 CMM W /5y in Hi a 7776M UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN JAMES BOYLE, OF IRLAM, NEAR MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,502, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed October 29, 1902. Serial No. 129,330. iNo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jonu JAMES RoYLn, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Irlam, near Manchester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating the Flow of Fluids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to that class of reducing and surplus valves in which the main valve is generally balanced by a diaphragm, and has for its objects, first, a more perfect method of balancing such valve so as to overcome the drawbacks common to the present method of balancing, and, second, the combination with the improved apparatus of a safety or relief valve, so as to obtain a reducing and relief or safety valve in one and the same article.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in diagram and detail, and I will now proceed to describe the same with the aid of the letters of reference marked thereon.

Diagrams 1, 2, and 3 show the essential parts of the improvements alongside the commonly-accepted method of balancing. Figure 1 illustrates a sectional elevation, Fig. 2 a side exterior elevation, Fig. 3 an end elevation, and Fig. 4: a plan, of the actual reducingvalve with my improvements applied thereto, Fig. 5 shows the modification necessary to enable the invention to be used as a surplusvalve. Figs. 1", 1 and 1 illustrate further modifications and certain details.

Referring to Diagram 1, which represents a vertical section of a reducing-valve of the type to which my improvements apply, a is the main valve, which is balanced by the diaphragm b, mounted as shown and generally made of indie-rubber. It is a serious defect in this class of valves that the lift of the valve on is limited by the flexibility of the diaphragm b, and the balancing is, moreover, always imperfect, because the working diameter of the diaphragm alters with every change of position of the main valve.

Referring to Diagram 2, which shows the improved valve, a is the main valve, and 5 an india-rubber tube connected at b with the extension 0 of the main-valve casing and at (2 connected to a cap 6, which in turn is connected to the main valve a by rod f. Thus it will be obvious that the tube 1) will admit of any amount of movement in the direction of its length, limited only by the length of the tube, and if the diameter of the tube be kept constant the balancing of the valve a" will be perfectly effected. To insure a constant diameter, I surround or reinforce the tube with a coil of wire or a series of rings or I braid the tube with non-extensible material in such manner that the tube is free to stretch in the direction of its length, but is rigid laterally.

Such being the essential feature and nature of the first portion of the invention, I will now proceed to describe my method of carrying the same into practical effect, which is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

In all the views, A is the main valve, situated iwitllgin a valve-casing B, with inletO and out- E is the flexible tube, formed,by preference, of indie-rubber, the upper end of which loosely and neatly fits in a cap F, formed in the gilled extension G of the casing B and the lower end of which loosely and neatly fits in the cup H. This cup H is connected to the main valve A by rod I.

J is a series of rings of metal threaded onto the tube E and neatly fitting such tube. A detached outside view of this tube E and the rings J is shown in Fig. 1. The cup H is extended upward around the outside of the rings, so inclosing them as in a casing, and such cup H is provided with extensions K to receive the upward pull of two springs L, the upper ends of which are attached to a yoke M, pro vided with adjusting-screw and hand-wheel N, by which the tension on the springs can be varied.

The action of the parts is as follows: It is found from experience that if the diameter of the valve-seating appertaining to the valve A is made equal to the outside diameter of the indie-rubber tube E or the inside diameter of the rings J the valve A will be in equilibrium to any fluid acting through the inlet C, and therefore be balanced as far as the initial pressure is concerned. The tension on'the springs L, however, gives the valve an upward or opening tendency, as shown in Fig. 1, and

as soon as the pressure in the outlet 1), acting on the top of the valve A, equals the tension of the springs the valve will close, as in Fig. 1", and allow no more fluid to pass. The tension of the springs is, therefore, the measure of the reduced pressure, and a considerable range of pressure on either side of the determined reduced pressure can be obtained by adjusting the tension on the springs by means of the hand-wheel N or by employing springs of different strengths. The reduced pressure is usually settled by test and can be indicated, as shown in Fig. 2, by notches in the yoke M and its guides B. The reducing-valve in case of steam is to be fixed as illustrated, the condensed water quickly filling the lower portion and afterward keeping the parts cool. Gills are cast on, as shown, for dispensing the heat.

Fig. 1" illustrates the combination of a relief or safety valve with the hereinbefore-described reducing-valve and consists of a valve 0, located in the cap P of the valve-casing, and such valve receives the thrust of the screw N, acting under the tension of the springs L. This relief-valve is made slightly smaller in diameter than the main valve A say, for example, ten per cent.-and itfollows, therefore, in case the main valve A does not perfectly close off the fluid on coming to its seat and pressure rises in the outlet 1) that as soon as the pressure exceeds by ten per cent. the reduced pressure for which the valve has been set such valve will open and discharge the excess, thus preventing overpressure, which is a most important feature and should form part of all reducing-valves. It will also be obvious that the ten-per-cent. or other safety margin fixed by the proportion between the two valves, as described, will be right for all adjustments of reduced pressure. Thus if the apparatus be set to reduce to ten pounds the safety blowing-point will be eleven pounds, while if the reduced pressure be altered to fifty pounds by tightening the springs the blow-ofl' point will be raised to fiftyfive pounds, the one adjustment effecting the double purpose of determining the reduced pressure and the blowing-off pressure. I may with advantage apply this part of my invention to other makes of reducing-valves.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate the position of the main valve A when acting as a surplus-valve, the other parts remaining substantially the same. The valve A, as shown, is in equilibrium on the low-pressure side, and the valve will open according to the tension on the springs, which will determine the pressure at which the fluid will surplus over, as is well understood by those conversant with the action of surplusvalves.

In the case of large reducing-valves with which it might be inconvenient to have a single valve, owing to the large diameter of the indiarubber tube E required, the valve may be made of the double-seat type, as seen in Diagram 3, in which case the area of the tube will require to be equal to the dilference between the areas of the two main valves. The initial pressure must also act between the two valves and the inside of the tube, and for this purpose connection is made to the initial-pressure side by pipe X, as illustrated.

My invention is applicable to valves working with either steam, air, water, or other fluid pressure, and while preferring an indiarubber tube may employ any other form of tube allowing of the same action. I. may also use weights in lieu of springs.

Obviously the tube and rings may with advantage be used with other apparatus wherein a diaphragm action of great range is required, and they may also be used where the force or motion of a gas or fluid is used for controlling purposes or for imparting the force of the gas or fluid to another object, and in such connection this part of the invention may be used with damper and ventilator controlling devices, pressure-regulators, hydraulic jacks, brakes, governors, &c.

What I claim is l. A tube of indiarubber extensible in the direction of its length, a fixed open tubular part into which one end of the tube fits, and throughwhich a fluid under pressure enters the tube, a closed ended cup into which the opposite end of the tube neatly fits, a fluid controlling device, and means for connecting the cup with the said fluid-controlling device, in combination with a sheath of non-extensible rings neatly fitting outside the tube of indiarubber and, with the tube at its shortest length, the said rings lying side by side, as set forth.

2. In a fluid-controlling valve, a valvwcasing having a tubular extension, a valve within said casing, a cap part, a rod connecting the said part to the valve, an elastic tube between and fitting within the said cap and the said tubular extension, a sleeve or casing for the said tube which prevents lateral enlargement but allows longitudinal extensions, and springs, with adjusting means, for holding the said valve from its seating, as set forth.

3. In a reducing-valve, a valve-casing with two valve-seatings, a main pressure-reducing valve and a relief-valve on thereduced-press sure side of sligl1tly-smaller="area than the main valve, a rod connected to the main valve and passing to the exterior of the valve-casing, a cross-bar on the said rod, and a set of springs connected to the said rod and to the relief-valve, and means for varying the tension of the springs, as. set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN JAMES ROYLE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM EASTWOOD, JOHN CAMP. 

